In this film publicity image released by The Weinstein Company, Jean Dujardin portrays George Valentin, left, and Berenice Bejo portrays Peppy Miller in a scene from "The Artist." The silent movie "The Artist" and the doomsday drama "Take Shelter" lead the Spirit Awards honoring independent films with five nominations each, including best picture. Winners will be announced Feb. 25, the day before the Academy Awards. (AP Photo/The Weinstein Company) less

In this film publicity image released by The Weinstein Company, Jean Dujardin portrays George Valentin, left, and Berenice Bejo portrays Peppy Miller in a scene from "The Artist." The silent movie "The Artist" ... more

Photo: AP

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In this undated film image released by Sony Pictures Classics, Michael Shannon is shown in a scene from "Take Shelter." The silent movie “The Artist” and the doomsday drama “Take Shelter" lead the Spirit Awards honoring independent films with five nominations each, including best picture. (AP Photo/Sony Pictures Classics, Kenneth Neil Moore) less

In this undated film image released by Sony Pictures Classics, Michael Shannon is shown in a scene from "Take Shelter." The silent movie “The Artist” and the doomsday drama “Take Shelter" lead the Spirit ... more

Photo: Kenneth Neil Moore, AP

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'Artist,' 'Take Shelter' top Spirit Award choices

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Los Angeles --

The silent movie "The Artist" and the doomsday drama "Take Shelter" led the Spirit Awards honoring independent film at Tuesday's announcement with five nominations each, including best picture.

Also in the running for best picture were the cancer tale "50/50," the action thriller "Drive," and the family dramas "Beginners" and "The Descendants."

A black-and-white throwback to early Hollywood, "The Artist" also earned a lead-actor nomination for Jean Dujardin as a silent film star whose career crumbles as the sound era takes over in the late 1920s. The film grabbed directing and screenplay nominations for Michel Hazanavicius, along with a cinematography slot for Guillaume Schiffman.

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"Take Shelter" star Michael Shannon earned a lead-actor nomination as a family man who comes unhinged amid visions of a coming apocalyptic storm. Co-star Jessica Chastain was nominated for supporting actress, while "Take Shelter" also received nominations for director Jeff Nichols and a prize for emerging producers for Sophia Lin.

Presented by the cinema group Film Independent, the Spirit Awards will be handed out the day before the Academy Awards, at an afternoon ceremony on Feb. 25. The show will air later that night on IFC.

The Spirit Awards nominations are one of the first key honors on the long road to the Oscars, which often are dominated by big Hollywood films but generally include many nominees from the independent film world.

Last season's top winner at the Spirit Awards, "Black Swan," also was a hit with academy voters, earning a best-picture nomination there and winning the best-actress Oscar for Natalie Portman.

Notably absent from the Spirit Awards lineup was Academy Award winner George Clooney, considered a strong prospect for a best-actor nomination at the Oscars for "The Descendants."

"Like Crazy," the top winner at Sundance Film Festival, was completely overlooked, receiving no nominations.